Romney tells actual unemployed people he is also unemployed
(CNN) – Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has more in common with the average voter than it may seem, or so he said during a campaign stop in Tampa, Florida Thursday.
After listening to a group of unemployed Floridians discuss the challenges they face in the job market, the presidential hopeful -and multi-millionaire– cheekily divulged, "I am also unemployed."
Romney's remarks were greeted with laughter from the crowd, and prompted one man to ask the former governor and businessman if he is on the online networking site 'LinkedIn.'
"Yes actually and I'm networking," Romney answered. "I have my sights on a particular job that I'm working for."
But not everyone appreciated Romney's humor.
Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz called the remarks "inappropriate and insensitive to the millions of Americans looking for work," in a statement.
New Hampshire Democratic Party Chairman Ray Buckley also issued a statement calling Romney's comments "completely unacceptable."
"I am not sure that I can think of anything more out of touch with Granite Staters than 'chuckling' at unemployment as Mitt Romney did today in Florida," Buckley said.
At a later campaign stop in Smyrna, Georgia, however, Romney insisted his humor was aimed only at himself.
"I'll always make light of myself, and self deprecating humor is part of who I am," Romney told reporters.
"I had the privilege of being with a lot of unemployed people today and talking about their concerns. That's why I was there. So I'm in touch. Our president simply doesn't understand that his policies are causing a level of unemployment that is really unparalleled in modern history," he added.
The Republican National Party will nominate their presidential candidate in Tampa next summer.
–CNN's Aaron Cooper and CNN All Platform Journalist John Couwels contributed to this report
Updated 5:28 p.m.
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Duh, let the unemployed eat cake.
And let's make sure he stays unemployed.
If he win's the nomination, he be the star of that commercial.
This is outrageous. How DARE he make a joke out of being unemployed. He has no concept whatsoever of the struggles of ordinary Americans who can't find a job, put food on the table, stay in their homes or be productive citizens of this country. This insensitivity of the plight of the majority of Americans will not only doom his chances of ever being POTUS, it points to the larger issue of his Republican Party not having any connection with average citizens. Buh bye, Mitt!!!!
Did he mention how many people he made "Unemployed" as a corporate hatchet man ?
I'm all for a little humor, but that really shows an appalling lack of good judgment. Even those of us that are "doing good" are but a paycheck or two away from being in big trouble. What an insensitive thing to joke about.
An unemployed millionaire is not "unemployed." He's temporarily stopped stealing is all.
Teehee! You so funny, Mittty! I'm sure your audience retires to one of their ski chalets to rue their unemployed status.
Mitt Flip Flop Romney is very, very rich. His being unemployed is not the same as my being unemployed and dead broke. Romney is pathetic.
Only because he is a "professional politician".
Of course, it is easier, when you are a millionaire.
Someone should have asked Romney, if he was still in the business of shedding employees for big companies hiring robots, foreigners, computer systems and shipping American jobs over seas, and how much billions did he made doing that.
If Romney is currently "unemployed" because he is currently not in the job position of POTUS right now, then the GOP hopeful is as "elitist" and "out of touch" with middle class Americans as I thought he is....
What a looser. This guy is a multi-millionare and he trys to act like he's the same as an unemployed American? Fail!
" I will be back in 4 years in a big plane with my own secret service" " I cant wait to debate the president" " I am unemployed"
This guy's arrogance is just beginning to show up. And does any body believe the BS about his having lived in his sons house's basement? You have 500 million$ in the bank and you live in a basement?
I like Mitt, however that comment was a bit off. Many of us who did not come from wealthy backgrounds, who worked to get our college degrees in difficult subjects such as engineering, are now saddled with tens of thousands of dollars of debt and are burdened with unemployment and underemployment. Not cool Mitt.
Can we say it together??? – O-U-T of T_O_U_C_H?
I wish I could joke about not having a job which I attribute to an economic climate 30 years in the making by GOP'ers "trickle down" economics.
As the son of a former auto industry executive and with his FATHER as the former Governor of Michigan, Mitt Romney was born on 3rd base. Unfortunately, if you listen to him, he would SWEAR to you that he hit a TRIPLE to get there.
But you are rich you fool
Unemployed with a Rolls Royce
Mr. Romney's comment says it all, i.e.,republican compassion and understanding for the masses. I just can't understand how anyone with any common sense can support politicians with such distain for us commoners.
I wonder if Romney would still think he was being funny if we took away his millions leaving him with $1000 in his checking account, no savings, and two nearly maxed out credit cards, with a car loan, utilities and rent due in two weeks, all the while getting only $200 a week form the state in unemployment benefits in an economy in which only burger flippers, dish washers and pizza delivery drivers are in demand. Yeah I bet funny man wouldn't be laughing then.
Mitt has no clue what it's like to have to struggle to get by. You really think he is going to care when he becomes president? It's kinda like Bush thinking it was great when a woman told him that she was working 3 jobs. Like working 3 crappy jobs is desirable. The middle class is doomed if Romney gets elected. The only welfare he supports is corporate welfare..
I am not unemployeed. if I was though I want to be Mitt Romneys kind of unemployeed. I am pretty sure he is doing much better on his unemployment as opposed to the people he said that to. What a joke.
OMG...this is the GOP frontrunner?! What a completely asinine thing to say.....I don't know what else to say.....
LOL Romney...cmon man we ALL know you have millions sitting in your bank account..are you drawing unemployment like these Floridians are? Actually they might fall into the category of people who have had their benefits cut off by members of your party. If he thinks he is going to pretend he is a "regular" guy to win the nomination and eventually the presidency than I welcome him to try that strategy all the way till Nov 2012 and watch as Barack Hussein Obama wipes the floor with him.
Obama 2012
Not funny not cute more like a slap in the face, but you watch how it will be played off as nothing, because its a republican. And yet americans keep electing them to office.